Victoria Leonard Counseling, PLLC
Phone: 910-463-2442 | Fax: 910-661-3671 | Email: admin@victorialeonardcounseling.com
Welcome
As a licensed clinical social worker, I am dedicated to helping clients find the strength and resilience they need to overcome the challenges of life. I believe true healing begins with a compassionate and personalized approach to therapy. I am here to help clients discover new insights, develop coping skills, and achieve their goals.
My Approach
If you're tired of carrying around old emotional wounds that stunt your full potential — you’re in the right place. I help people heal from trauma (CPTSD & PTSD) and attachment wounds, ditch self-doubt, and start actually liking themselves (yes, it’s possible!). We need human connection to heal wounds caused by human misconnection.
I use EMDR, tools from IFS (Internal Family Systems), Somatic Processing, CBT- and a good dose of human connection to help you move from “just surviving” to thriving. Whether you're untangling old patterns causing conflict in current or past relationships, rebuilding self-esteem, or just trying to feel more like you, we’ll do it with compassion, curiosity, and maybe even a little humor.
This is a space where you get to show up exactly as you are — no filter, no judgment. Healing is serious work, but that doesn’t mean we can’t laugh a little along the way.
In addition to trauma, I enjoy helping people deconstruct their anxious thoughts, calm their nervous systems, and feel more like themselves again. Anxiety can be triggered by both current stressors and old experiences stored in the nervous system. Often, symptoms of anxiety and pasted trauma tango together.
Ever find yourself saying “It’s fine” or "of course I don't mind", while your eye twitches and your soul leaves your body?
Let's reconstruct that!
Psychotherapy isn’t just sinking into a comfy couch and talking about your childhood (though, that's often where the roots begin). It also looks like:
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Learning to set boundaries or give an honest answer without immediately spiraling into “Do they hate me now?”
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Figuring out how to be authentic in relationships instead of masking or mirroring 24/7. Because who you authentically are IS amazing.
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Healing the anxious parts of you that think asking for what you need = being “too much.”
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And most importantly: creating relationships where you can be fully yourself — no people-pleasing, no emotional yoga poses, just real connection.
Therapy helps you stop exhausting yourself in an attempt to be liked, and start building relationships where you’re respected, supported, and maybe even — gasp — happy.
SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY RELATED CRITERIA Physical & Emotional Symptoms: Racing heart/heart palpitations Muscle tension or soreness Shallow breathing or shortness of breath Stomach issues (nausea, IBS, butterflies) Dizziness or lightheadedness Sweating (especially hands or underarms) Shaking or trembling Fatigue or trouble sleeping Headaches or jaw clenching Feeling on edge or constantly tense Irritability or being easily frustrated Fear of losing control or “going crazy” Feelings of dread or doom (even when nothing’s wrong) Feeling overwhelmed or like you “can’t cope” Shame or embarrassment about your anxiety itself Cognitive Symptoms: Excessive worry or overthinking (even small things) Trouble concentrating (“brain fog”) Persistent negative thoughts or catastrophizing Feeling like your mind is racing or can't slow down Indecisiveness or constantly second-guessing yourself Hypervigilance (always on alert for something going wrong) Behavioral Symptoms: Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger anxiety Procrastination or perfectionism (to manage fear of failure) Reassurance-seeking (e.g., “Are you mad at me?” constantly) Compulsive behaviors or rituals to “feel safe” Canceling plans or isolating Overworking or staying constantly “busy” to avoid feelings
SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA RELATED CRITERIA You may rely on these 'survival strategies' : • Fight: Anger, control, perfectionism • Flight: Anxiety, overworking, constant busyness • Freeze: Numbing, procrastination, dissociation • Fawn: People-pleasing, losing yourself to keep others happy Signs you MAY have unresolved maladaptive learn behaviors related to past experiences: • You feel stuck in patterns you can’t explain • You overreact to small things (and feel uncomfortable about it) • You’re exhausted by relationships • You don’t feel fully safe in your own body or mind; you may feel distant or like your own worst enemy • You avoid emotions or “check out” often Your self-worth is tied to performance, being needed, or not making waves PTSD Symptoms (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Usually develops after a single traumatic event (e.g., accident, assault, disaster, witnessing violence). 1. Intrusive Symptoms Flashbacks or reliving the event Nightmares Intrusive thoughts or images Strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders (e.g., sounds, smells, places) 2. Avoidance Avoiding places, people, conversations, or thoughts related to the trauma Withdrawing emotionally or physically from life or relationships 3. Negative Changes in Mood & Thinking Persistent shame, guilt, or fear Feeling numb or disconnected Memory problems related to the trauma Feeling hopeless or worthless 4. Hyperarousal (Always On Edge) Exaggerated startle response Trouble sleeping Irritability or angry outbursts Difficulty concentrating Feeling constantly alert or unsafe C-PTSD Symptoms (Complex PTSD) Usually develops from ongoing, repeated trauma, often in relationships or childhood — like abuse, neglect, manipulation, abandonment, or living in a chronically unsafe environment. Includes all PTSD symptoms, plus additional symptoms: 1. Emotional Dysregulation Intense mood swings Chronic shame or guilt Difficulty calming down Emotional numbness or feeling “shut down” Feeling like your emotions are “too much” or unpredictable 2. Negative Self-Concept Persistent feelings of worthlessness Belief that you're “broken,” “too much,” or “unlovable” Harsh inner critic or constant self-blame Difficulty trusting your perceptions or decisions 3. Relational Difficulties Fear of intimacy or abandonment People-pleasing or over-functioning to feel safe Isolation or avoidance of relationships Repeatedly ending up in unhealthy/dysfunctional dynamics Feeling disconnected from others, or like an outsider 4. Dissociation & Identity Confusion Feeling spaced out, numb, or “not real” Gaps in memory (especially around trauma) Feeling like different “parts” of yourself are in conflict Struggling to know who you are or what you want
What To Expect At Your Visit
The first session generally includes information gathering, exploring goals, and getting to know each other.
Subsequent sessions are spent working toward meeting the identified goals. Clients can expect to spend 50-55 minutes in each session. I strive to maintain consistency, as time is our most precious resource.
Clients report feeling relief, increased joy and happiness, and helpful new perspectives on life as a result of psychotherapy. Many of my clients report benefits beginning with the first session.
The use of AI has become a new trend among therapists for documentation and treatment planning. I do not use AI technology in my work with my clients to ensure complete confidentiality.
